Chapter 23
Bossy Lady
The morning had passed quickly for Celia, but the evening was going by slowly. Sandy had dropped by around two and taken her iPod. Celia had eaten her sandwich for lunch but was getting hungry again. She had looked at her notes as much as she could, and since she was bored, picked up the Bible Sandy had found.
She’d read most of the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah and felt kind of depressed. Minus the children, she felt like the sister, Leah. She’d been placed on the back burner by Martin. He wanted Randi, not her. Well, she was moving on. Leah should have just ran away and found a man who loved her.
As she was reading on through the chapter trying to figure out what happened to Leah, she heard the door open. She looked up and smiled at Mike. “I hope you come bearing food.”
“I did,” he said, stepping into the room. When she saw he was holding two small boxes, she smiled again.
“Pizza?”
“You got it. I’ll have to run down the hall to get some drinks. I’m not disturbing your reading, am I?” he asked, placing the boxes on the table.
“No. It’s kind of depressing. I was reading what this young woman, Sandy, said was one of her favorite love stories, but I just felt it was sad. Two women fighting over one man? The way I see it, he’s the only one who came out on top.”
“I noticed that earlier. I know the story well, or most of it. It was one of the many we studied in Sunday School. I think it was hard on all of them. Jacob wanted Rachel but was obligated to take care of both of them.”
“It seems to be nothing but a baby-making contest. They both wanted to please him by having more children. I’m glad some things have changed and men think about more than having sons.”
“I don’t think it’s changed that much. Every man wants a child to carry on his name. We all just don’t get one. Don’t you want kids some day?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’d have to be sure it was going to work. Too many people have kids, divorce and then marry someone else. It’s hard on the kids.” Celia wasn’t in a mood to have a serious conversation so she closed the Bible and handed it to Mike.
“I do know I’m not going to have six or more, like those two. And I’m sorry, but I must say, you don’t look like the Sunday School type.”
Mike took the Bible, laid it on the stand by her bed, placed the pizzas on the table and pushed the table into place. “I went to church when I was young. My parents insisted on it until I was seventeen and started rebelling.”
“We were holiday Christians,” Celia said, with an uncomfortable laugh.
“That’s what I am now, at best. I try to go on Mother’s Day with Mom, but I don’t always make it.”
“That’s sweet. We must take care of our mothers. By the way, I talked to mine a bit a go and she said that you’ve been so good to her. I hear you’re going to take her supper later. Thanks. I do appreciate that. You’ll get a vacation when we go to Martin’s.”
“I may not,” he said, and immediately looked as if he regretted making the statement.
“What do you mean?”
He stepped back, started digging for change and finally looked at her. “Martin invited me to move in while you’re staying there. He’s not going to be there and he thought you might need help. He said it would make it easier for us to work on the house. I’d be closer.”
Celia nodded. She wasn’t expecting Martin to stay there, but she didn’t know if she liked that he was trying to push Mike into babysitting.
“I don’t want to put you out. He never should have done that, at least not without asking.” Celia looked up and regretted the words. Mike looked hurt. She hadn’t meant to insult him.
“I’ll go grab some drinks. I’ll be right back.” She started to say something but let him go. She pondered on the idea. He was her business partner and it would make things simpler. Also, he had been helpful. She hated to take advantage of him but she would need someone around to run errands. She hated this situation she was in, but she had no money to pay for help.
Why was she always doing or saying the wrong thing? She felt the tears starting to sting her eyes. This medicine she was on was making her cry way too often. She hadn’t told Mike, but she had cried while reading the Bible story. It had reminded her too much of Martin, Randi and herself.
She managed to not have an all-out cry, but a few tears did escape. When Mike came back she hoped she looked normal. She laid her tissue on the bed and smiled.
He looked at her strangely. After he’d opened her soda for her and the box of pizza, he forced a sad smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring it on you like that. I should have been more tactful. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Celia smiled. “I’m sorry if I sounded ungrateful. I’m really not the witch Martin makes me out to be.”
“I never thought that. I can understand if you wouldn’t feel comfortable with my staying. We don’t know each other that well.”
“Oh, my! That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry. I trust you. It’s not that at all. It just drives me crazy that I can’t pay you for all the help you’re giving me, but until I get a job, I’m short of funds.”
“I’m not looking to get paid.”
“Maybe not, but I feel terrible. I’m sure my mother and I are keeping you from something. Your family, your girlfriend, your job…”
Mike pulled up a chair and sat where he could look her in the eye. He picked up his pizza box and seemed unsure of what he should say. After shrugging he spoke, “At this moment, my job isn’t taking up too much time. I go into work when I’m needed. My family time consists of dinner once a week and random phone calls.”
He didn’t say anymore and took a bite of pizza. They’d never talked about his personal life. She hadn’t noticed anyone calling or leaving texts for him. She highly doubted he was gay and wasn’t about to ask, but she did want to know. She waited a moment, ate a bite or two of her pizza and then went on with her thought. “No bossy lady taking up all of your time?”
He smiled, shook his head and looked down as he spoke, “Just you.”